Battle of the Somme

Members of Worcester Writers’ Circle contributed poetry and prose for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Living Memory project about the Somme. The Battle of the Somme lasted from July to November 1916 so we look back 100 years to commemorate the fallen, especially those who died after the battle as a result of wounds suffered during action or due to the Spanish Flu which claimed many lives.

This is a CWGC funded pamphlet that is free of charge for the first 250 copies. The pamphlets will be available from reception at Worcester (Astwood) Cemetary from Friday 9 December 2016 until stocks run out – one copy per person.

In the UK alone, there are more than 12,000 sites commemorating men and women from the First and Second World Wars.

“The men who fought at the Battle of the Somme did so in some of the most horrendous conditions and saw many of their fellow comrades killed or badly wounded. We must never forget them, and instead remember these men by visiting their graves here in the UK and finding out their stories.

“With more than 300,000 war graves and memorials in the UK, I would urge people to get together and explore their nearest war graves – find out about the person behind the headstone and remember them for the sacrifice they gave.”

If you have memories of a relative who lost their life during or after the Battle of the Somme due to injuries sustained there, or memories of survivors who died later, please get in touch with Worcester Writers’ Circle to have their story told. Contact: webeditor@worcesterwriters.org.uk